“Of course I cannot understand it,” he said. “If your heads were stuffed with straw, like mine, you would probably all live in the beautiful places, and then Kansas would have no people at all. It is fortunate for Kansas that you have brains.” 

Although the Scarecrow is convinced that he lacks intelligence, he demonstrates critical thinking abilities from the moment he meets Dorothy. When Dorothy describes Kansas as “gray” and boring, the Scarecrow questions why she would want to leave the beautiful Land of Oz and return to such a landscape. Dorothy replies that he cannot understand her motives because he has no brains, but the Scarecrow raises some thought-provoking points. Humans make decisions (such as where to live) based on complex reasons; sometimes these decisions require personal sacrifice in some areas. The Scarecrow—who is, at this point, only a day old—is already beginning to recognize the broad scope of human thought, proving that he is not the “fool” he imagines himself to be.

“Whenever I’ve met a man I’ve been awfully scared; but I just roared at him, and he has always run away as fast as he could go. If the elephants and the tigers and the bears had ever tried to fight me, I should have run myself–I’m such a coward; but just as soon as they hear me roar they all try to get away from me, and of course I let them go.” 

The Lion incorrectly assumes that he is a coward because he feels fear in unknown situations. When he is presented with danger, he explains, his “heart begins to beat fast,” which is, of course, a natural physiological reaction to a potentially-threatening circumstance. The Lion has learned to use his physical stature and strong voice to create fear in others, even though he feels quite fearful. He shares that if any of the larger animals decided to stand and fight, he would run away because he believes that his natural physical reaction makes him a coward. The Lion has not yet learned that bravery is not the absence of fear; instead, it requires one to confront danger while recognizing one’s vulnerabilities. Traveling with Dorothy helps the Lion gain confidence, and he becomes willing to face danger to protect his friends.

“I’m really a very good man, but I’m a very bad Wizard, I must admit.”

Dorothy and their friends place all of their hope in Oz, whom they believe will be able to grant their deepest desires. As it turns out, Oz has no special abilities and is simply an ordinary man. Instead of using magic, Oz helps the travelers recognize their strengths, which already existed before they met the “wizard.” This “good man” helps mold the characters into better leaders by cultivating self-efficacy and confidence in the travelers.

“There are worse things in the world than being a Scarecrow.” 

When the Scarecrow meets Dorothy, he is consumed by feelings of inadequacy, fearful of being judged by society and deemed a “fool.” After meeting the people made of china, he recognizes the struggles they must endure; such fragile creatures are forever in danger of being accidentally broken, and the Scarecrow realizes that, in many ways, his stuffing is an advantage. Although he longs for brains, the Scarecrow demonstrates wisdom and a growing sense of self-confidence in his realization that other individuals endure unique adversities and that he, therefore, has been created with comparative strengths. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is, at its heart, a novel about growth and self-discovery, illustrating the hidden strengths that each person carries—unacknowledged and ready to be uncovered—inside themselves.